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Introduction
This page surveys some of the Hebrew Names and Titles of God the Father as found in the New Testament. The names are listed in alphabetical order, with the Hebrew spelling, a common transliteration, and English phonetics following. Beneath each name is a link to hear the Hebrew audio. For each Name, I also include some Scriptural references.
Generally speaking, in Christian theology the "Father" can be said to represent the "Cloud of Unknowing," the transcendental destiny and truth of all things, whereas the Son can be said to represent the immanence and close presence of the Father - the "face of God" revealed (incarnated) to finite creation, "Messiah in you..." And just as Yeshua is the King of Angels (i.e., Malakh Adonai: מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה), so He also is the King of Men, the King of kings and Lord of Lords... The Spirit of God likewise is the breath of life, God breathing out to give life to all of creation.... God is One (1 Cor. 8:6; 15:28).
Abba
Abba
(ab-ba) Aramaic. Abba. "Father" (Mark 14:26; Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6).
It has long been supposed that the ancient Aramaic word "abba" was a term of familiarity that a young child might have used to address his father, similar to "daddy" or "papa" in English. It should be noted, however, that abba (אַבָּא) is clearly cognate with the Hebrew word av (אָב), meaning "Father," though the -א ending on the Aramaic word makes it a definite noun -- similar to adding the Hey prefix (-ה) to a Hebrew word (i.e., ha'av: הָאָב). In the New Testament, abba (αββα) is always connected with "the Father" (ὁ πατήρ) to form "Abba, the Father" (i.e., αββα ὁ πατήρ). It is thought that the word "Abba" might have been unknowable to Greek-speaking Jews and therefore ὁ πατήρ ("the Father") was added to clarify the meaning. In the Babylonian Talmud, abba was combined with the word rav (master) to coin the word rabba, a term of respect for revered Torah sage.
In the famous "Disciple's Prayer," Yeshua instructed his followers to call God "our Heavenly Father" (אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם), though He clearly stressed that we understand the sanctity of the Name of the LORD (יִתְקַדֵּשׁ שְׁמֶךָ). In other words, when we call God our Father, we must remember who we are addressing (i.e., the LORD) and show proper reverence and awe for His glory and honor. This is expressed in the principle: דַּע לִפְנֵי מִי אַתָּה עוֹמֵד / da lifnei mi attah omed: "Know before whom you stand." As it is written: רֵאשִׁית חָכְמָה יִרְאַת יהוה / "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" (Psalm 111:10), and כִּי־יהוה עֶלְיוֹן נוֹרָא מֶלֶךְ גָּדוֹל עַל־כָּל־הָאָרֶץ / "For the LORD Most High is awesome, great king over all the earth" (Psalm 47:2).
We need to be careful here. Calling the LORD "daddy-God" or "papa-God" verges on presumptuousness by diminishing His glory as the Master of the Universe. And while it is true that the LORD is our gracious and loving Savior, He is also Judge of all the earth. Christians are to "put away childish things" (1 Cor. 13:11) and understand that God is our Judge: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Messiah, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil" (2 Cor. 5:10). "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is" (1 Cor. 3:13). "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb. 10:31).
Abba our Father
Abba Avinu
(ab-ba ah-VEE-nu) Aramaic. Abba our Father (Rom. 8:15).
All Sufficient God
El Shaddai
(el sha-DAI) The All Sufficient God; Shad means "breast" in Hebrew (Rev. 1:8; cp. Gen. 17:1).
Consuming Fire
Esh Okhlah
(EISH oh-khe-LAH) Consuming Fire (Heb. 12:29; cp. Deut. 4:24).
Creator
Hayotzer
(ha-yoh-TSEIR) The Creator (Rom. 1:25; 1 Peter 4:9); also ha'borei.
El Elyon
El Elyon
(el el-YOHN) The Most High God. (Heb. 7:1; cp. Gen. 14:20; Psalm 9:2).
Elohim
Elohim
(e-lo-HEEM) God (2 Cor. 9:7).
El Shaddai
El Shaddai
(el sha-DAI) The All Sufficient God; Shad means "breast" in Hebrew (Rev. 1:8;
cp. Gen. 17:1).
Everlasting Father
Avi'ad
(a-vee-AD) Everlasting Father; Father of Eternity (Isa. 9:6; 1 Cor. 8:6).
Father of All
Avi-khol
(a-vee-KHOL) Father of all (Eph. 4:6).
Father of Glory
Avi HaKavod
(a-vee hak-kah-VOHD) Father of Glory (Eph. 1:17).
Father of Lights
Avi HaMe'orot
(a-vee ha-me-oh-ROHT) Father of Lights (James. 1:17).
Father of Mercies
Avi HaRachamim
(a-vee ha-ra-cha-MEEM) Father of Mercies (2 Cor. 1:3).
Father of our LORD Jesus the Messiah
Avi Yeshua Hamashiach Adoneinu
(a-vee ha-roo-KHOT) Father of our Lord Jesus the Messiah (Col. 1:3; Rom. 15:6; 2 Cor. 1:3; 1 Pet. 1:3 ).
Father of Spirits
Avi HaRuchot
(a-vee ha-roo-KHOT) Father of spirits (Hebrews 12:9).
God
Elohim
(e-lo-HEEM) God (2 Cor. 9:7).
God of Abraham
Elohei Avraham
(e-lo-hay av-rah-HAHM) The God of Abraham (Acts 7:32; cp. Ex. 3:15).
God of all Comfort
Elohei khol-Nechamah
(e-lo-hay khol-ne-kha-MAH) God of all Comfort (2 Cor. 1:3).
God of our Fathers
Elohei Avoteinu
(e-lo-hay a-vo-TAY-nu) God of our fathers (Acts 7:32; cp. Deut. 26:7; 1 Chron. 12:17).
God of Glory
Elohei HaKavod
(e-lo-hay hak-ka-VOHD) God of Glory (Acts 7:2; cp. Psa. 29:3).
God of Israel
El Yisrael
(el yees-rah-EL) The God of Israel (Matt. 15:31; cp. Ps. 68:36).
God of Issac
Elohei Ya'akov
(e-lo-hay yeetz-KHAK) The God of Isaac (Acts 7:32; cp. Ex. 3:15).
God of Jacob
Elohei Ya'akov
(e-lo-hay ya-a-kov) God of Jacob (Acts 7:32; cp. Ex. 3:15).
God of Peace
Elohei HaShalom
(e-lo-hay ha-sha-LOHM) The God of Peace (Heb. 13:20).
God the Father
Elohim Avinu
(e-lo-HEEM ah-VEE-nu) God the Father (2 Tim. 1:2).
Heavenly Father
Avinu Shebashamayim
(a-vee-KHOL) Our Heavenly Father; "Our Father Who art in Heaven" (Matt. 6:9; Luke 11:2).
King of Kings
Melekh HaMelakhim
(ME-lekh ha-me-lah-KHEEM) King of Kings (1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 17:14; 19:16).
King of the Nations
Melekh HaGoyim
(ME-lekh ha-goi-YEEM) King of the nations (Rev. 15:3).
Living God
Elohim Chayim
(e-lo-HEEM KHAI-eem) The Living God (2 Cor. 3:3; 6:16; cp. Jer. 10:10).
LORD God
Adonai Elohim
(a-doh-NIGH e-lo-HEEM) The LORD God (Acts 3:22; cp. Gen. 2:4, etc.).
LORD of Hosts
Adonai Tseva'ot
(a-doh-NIGH tse-va-OHT) The LORD of armies (or hosts) (2 Cor. 6:18; James 5:4; cp. 1 Sam. 1:11).
LORD of Lords
Adonei Ha-Adonim
(a-doh-NEI ha-a-doh-NEEM) Lord of Lords (1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 17:14; 19:16).
Most High God
El Elyon
(el el-YOHN) The Most High God. (Heb. 7:1; cp. Gen. 14:20; Psalm 9:2).
Our Heavenly Father
Avinu Shebashamayim
(a-vee-KHOL) Our Heavenly Father; "Our Father Who art in Heaven" (Matt. 6:9; Luke 11:2).
The All Sufficient God
El Shaddai
(el sha-DAI) The All Sufficient God; Shad means "breast" in Hebrew (Rev. 1:8; cp. Gen. 17:1).
The Creator
Hayotzer
(ha-yoh-TSEIR) The Creator (Rom. 1:25; 1 Peter 4:9).
The Excellent One
Ha'gaon
(ha-GAH-ohn) The Exaltation; The Excellency (2 Peter 1:17; cp. Job 37:4; Isa. 2:19).
The Father of Jesus the Messiah
HaAv L'Yeshua HaMashiach
(ha-ahv le-ye-SHU-a ham-ma-SHEE-ach) The Father of Jesus the Messiah (2 Cor. 11:31).
The God of Israel
El Yisrael
(el yees-rah-EL) The God of Israel (Matt. 15:31; cp. Ps. 68:36).
The Judge
HaShofet
(ha-SHO-fet) The Judge (James 4:12; cp. Judges 11:27).
The King of Kings
Melekh HaMelakhim
(ME-lekh ha-me-lah-KHEEM) King of Kings (1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 17:14; 19:16).
The King of the Nations
Melekh HaGoyim
(ME-lekh ha-goi-YEEM) King of the nations (Rev. 15:3).
The Living God
Elohim Chayim
(e-lo-HEEM KHAI-eem) The Living God (2 Cor. 3:3; 6:16; cp. Jer. 10:10).
The LORD God
Adonai Elohim
(a-doh-NIGH e-lo-HEEM) The LORD God (Acts 3:22; cp. Gen. 2:4, etc.).
The LORD God Almighty
Adonai Elohei Tseva'ot
(a-doh-NIGH e-lo-HAY tse-va-OHT) Lord God Almighty; Lord God of Hosts (Rev. 15:3).
The LORD God of Israel
Adonai Elohei Yisrael
(a-doh-NIGH e-lo-HEEM yees-rah-EL) The Lord God of Israel (Luke 1:68; cp. Isa. 17:6).
The LORD of Hosts
Adonai Tseva'ot
(a-doh-NIGH tse-va-OHT) The LORD of armies (or hosts) (2 Cor. 6:18; James 5:4; cp. 1 Sam. 1:11).
The LORD of Lords
Adonei Ha-Adonim
(a-doh-NEI ha-a-doh-NEEM) Lord of Lords (1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 17:14; 19:16).
The Majesty on High
HaGedullah Bamaron
(ha-ge-doo-lah bam-ma-ROHM) The Majesty on High (Heb. 1:3; cp. 1 Chron. 29:11).
The Most High God
El Elyon
(el el-YOHN) The Most High God. (Heb. 7:1; cp. Gen. 14:20; Psalm 9:2).
The Only Wise God
Elohim Echad V'hechakham
(e-lo-HEEM e-KHAD ve-he-khah-KHAM) The Only Wise God (1 Tim. 1:17).
The Power
Hagevurah
(ha-ge-voo-RAH) The Power (Mark 14:62).
The Sovereign One
Hamvorakh
(ham-voh-RAKH) Potentate, Emperor, Sovereign, Supreme Ruler (1 Tim. 6:15).
A Note about the Hebrew and Greek Texts for the Father's Names
The New Testament was written in Koine Greek, of course, and that's the starting point for serious exegesis of its writings. The Hebrew names derived here come from the Salkinson-Ginsburg Hebrew New Testament (1999 edition) which I compared to F. Delitzsch's older Hebrew translation of the Brit Chadashah as well as with the Robinson-Pierpont Majority Text (1995), the Westcott and Hort NT, and the Friberg NT (UBS3/4). I also cross-checked against the LXX and various Jewish sources.
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